Business Briefs
Perk & Brew
open in South Cape
The Perk & Brew recently opened in South Cape at 1021 Cape Coral Parkway, next to the Iguana Mia restaurant. Owned by Sara Tracey and Theresa Knazek, who promise to greet customers with a smile, the shop offers fresh-made breakfast sandwiches, quiche, baked pastries, sandwiches, soups, bread bowls and much more.
Those looking for the best coffee in town, should visit Perk & Brew, where the beans are locally roasted and the coffee is fresh.
Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday. It’s closed Sunday,
More information is available at 239-542-6080 or facebook.com/perknbrew
McBreairty has joined
Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida
Jennifer McBreairty has joined Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida as an advanced registered nurse practitioner.
McBreairty will assist family and internal medicine physicians in the Cape Coral Internal Medicine office at 1708 Cape Coral Parkway, Suite 4.
McBreairty is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, where she received her bachelor of science degree in nursing. She received her master of science degree and ARNP from the University of South Florida in Tampa.
She has 15 years of experience as a registered nurse and four years of experience as an ARNP, working in both hospital and private practice settings
Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida, a physician-owned and operated medical practice, was formed in 1996 by many long practicing local physicians and has grown to become the largest independent multi-specialty primary care practice in Southwest Florida.
Medical specialties include family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics. Offices are conveniently located in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Lehigh Acres. For more information, visit www.ppcswfl.com.
Auction items announced
for inaugural Taste of Freedom
Over $25,000 of live auction items have been announced for the inaugural Taste of Freedom Saturday, April 9, from 6-9:30 p.m., at Scanlon Lexus of Fort Myers. Tickets are on sale now for this fabulous event to benefit the Southwest Florida Regional Human Trafficking Coalition. Tickets can be obtained at SWFL-humantrafficking.org.
This fun-filled evening will feature incredible live auction items including a trip to Africa, a chef’s evening for four at Brio, a beachhouse weekend, breakfast with Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson, a two-night stay in Key West, lunch for four with Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott and many more once in a lifetime opportunities.
The Southwest Florida Regional Human Trafficking Coalition is partnering with 10 restaurants and niche caterers in Southwest Florida for this inaugural event. Cantina Laredo, DaRuMa, LeRoy Selmon’s, Crave Culinaire, Tarpon Bay, India Palace, LeeSar Culinary, Here’s Howe, Black Salt and Ellie Bee’s Bakery will all be featured during the event.
Additional entertainment includes a live band, chef stations with delectable food and wine tastings and a raffle for a 24-month lease on a 2016 Lexus. A surprise guest will serve as the Master of Ceremonies throughout the evening.
Taste of Freedom will raise awareness of human trafficking in the community, unmask the realities of human trafficking and celebrate the empowerment of its survivors in our immediate area.
All proceeds raised through the event will benefit the Southwest Florida Regional Human Trafficking Coalition to help provide medical and treatment needs, safe shelter, clothing and food..
Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at SWFL-humantrafficking.org. Tables are available for purchase as well.
Support for the Taste of Freedom allows Southwest Florida Regional Human Trafficking Coalition to assist victims of human trafficking locally, nationally and globally.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank opens fifth branch
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has opened a fifth branch, located in its operations center at 7500 College Parkway, a third of a mile west of U.S. 41. Customers can transact banking business and take advantage of hands-on, individual service Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and until 5 p.m. on Fridays. The location’s ATM is accessible around the clock.
In addition to the new branch, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has two locations in Fort Myers, one in the Myerlee community and the second on McGregor Boulevard near Kelly Road. It is the only bank chartered on Sanibel Island, where it has two additional locations. The bank is well-capitalized, with $277 million in assets, and generates the third highest return on equity of Florida’s 157 chartered banks.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s professionals provide customized individual and business banking services and specialize in residential loans. The bank provides free personal and business checking, top-yielding money market accounts, safe deposit boxes, electronic statements and a mobile banking app, as well as online and drive-thru banking. To learn more, visit www.sancapbank.com.
Breakfast to benefit
Southeastern Guide Dogs
The Southeastern Guide Dog Puppy Raisers and Calendar Girls Florida will be hosting a Pancake Breakfast to benefit Southeastern Guide Dogs on Saturday, March 5, from 8-10 a.m., at Applebee’s, 2228 Del Prado Blvd, Cape Coral.
Tickets are just $10 and the meal includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs and a beverage all served up by celebrity servers.
Southeastern Guide Dogs is an internationally accredited guide dog school located in Palmetto, Fla. It receives no funding from the government, its services are free, and it costs tens of thousands of dollars to raise up one guide dog team.The Paws for Patriots program provides at no charge service dogs for our veterans suffering from PTSD.
For more information or advance tickets contact JJ Jones at 239-415-5881.
Above Board Chamber to host
‘advertising strategies’ programs
The Above Board Chamber of Florida will present “Advertising Strategies Where Should You Spend Your Money?” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, March 10, at the Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe St., in Fort Myers, and Monday, March 14, at the Hilton Naples, 5111 Tamiami Trail, N., in Naples. Reservations are required at www.aboveboardchamber.com.
The Fort Myers meeting will feature a panel including Amy Parrish, digital media sales manager at NBC2 and ABC7; Connie Ramos-Williams, CEO and chief marketing officer for CONRIC PR & Marketing and president of CONRIC Publishing; Chris Spiro, CEO and creative director of Spiro & Associates; and Vince Modarelli, advertising sales manager for South Lee / Collier The News-Press Media Group.
Both meetings will be emceed by Ingrid Fuller of Fuller Online Solutions.
Registration will be $30 for members, $33 for guests.
Non-members are encouraged to attend two meetings, then consider joining the Above Board Chamber of Florida. To become a member of the Above Board Chamber, contact Jeanne Sweeney at 239.910.7426.
Fry to compete in U.S. Pastry Competition
at New York Restaurant Show
Chef Justin Fry of Norman Love Confections will compete for the coveted title of Pastry Chef of the Year at Paris Gourmet’s U.S. Pastry Competition taking place at the International Restaurant & Food Service Show of New York on Sunday, March 6, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.
The theme for the 2016 competition is Magic & Illusions.
The U.S. Pastry Competition is America’s most prestigious pastry competition. The event allows leading pastry chefs to showcase their talents by creating advanced dessert and chocolate bonbon recipes exhibited along with highly technical sugar and chocolate sculpted showpieces. Board members of the Societe Culinaire Philanthropique, one of the oldest and most prestigious chef associations in the world, will preside over the judging procedures. Contest awards will total over $10,000.
Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes handcrafted artisanal chocolates from its corporate headquarters at 11380 Lindbergh Blvd. in Fort Myers.
Norman Love Confections has Chocolate Salons in Fort Myers, Estero and Naples, and Artisan Gelato by Norman Love is next door to the Fort Myers salon, off Daniels Parkway east of I-75. For more information visit www.normanloveconfections.com or call 239-561-7215.